Means for lifting fish-trap pots or spillers.



No. 735,601. PATENTED AUG. 4, '1903.

A. F. SHADBL. MEANS FOR LIFTING FISH TRAP'POTS 0R SPILLERS.

APPLIOAIIOKIILED SEPT. Z, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

INVENTOR.

WITNESSES: ML R AM No. zsaeoi.

UNITED STATE Fatented August 4, 1902."

PATENT OFFICE.

MEANS FOR LlFTlNG FISH-TRAP POTS OR SPI LLERS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 735,601, dated August 4,1903. Application filed September 2, 1902. Serial No. 121,919. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LALBERT FREDERICK SHA- DEL, a citizen of the UnitedStates of America, and a resident of Lopez, in the county of San Juanand State of Washington, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Means for Lifting Fish-Trap Pots or Spillers, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in means for lifting fish-nets, andhas special reference to a contrivance of this class especially adaptedto lift the pots of trap-nets.

Among numerous objects attained by this invention and readily understoodfrom the following specification and accompanying drawings included as apart thereof is the production of a simple and durable portablenet-lifting device which embodies essential features of adaptability,utility, and general efficiency.

The above-mentioned and numerous other objects equally as desirable areattained by the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts 'asdisclosed on the drawings, set forth in this specification, andsuccinctly pointed out in the appended claims.

With reference to the drawings filed herewith and bearing similarreference characters for corresponding parts throughout, Figure 1 is aplan view, on small scale, of the frame adapted to support the pot of anordinary trap-net and indicates my lifter in relative position. Fig. 2is a vertical sectional view of said frame on large scale, taken on line2 2 of Fig. 1, viewed as the arrows indicate, and shows the lifter inrelative position. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of thecapping of the frame for the pot of a trap-net and indicates a portionof the pot suspended therefrom and one of the draft-lines of the lifterin relative position, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of theeye-clamps adapted to detachably connect the draft-lines to the net.

This invention includes a series of draftlines, as 10, of any desiredplurality, and preferably consisting of sections of rope conforming inlength to the distance of lift and suitably connected together at oneend by a ring, as 12, or the like, to which one end of each rope issuitably fastened in any desired manner and which is adapted asconvenient means for applying the lifting power to each line of thelifter simultaneously. At the free end of each of these lines a hook, as14, is secured as suitable means by which the lines can be readilydetachably connected to the net, and thereby facilitate the use of thelifter and render it capable of raising an extremely deep not withoutrequiring the draftlines to be of extreme length.

In the present embodiment the draft-lines 1O operate in suitable guides,as 16, suitably supported along the net at separated points todistribute the said lines, so that they will lift substantially equalloads and act in a direct vertical line below the guides, and there byraise the net more evenly. These guides preferably consist of ordinarysnatch-blocks, Fig. 3, and are each provided with a suitable book bywhich they are conveniently detachably connected to the not support orframe, as 18, in suitable eyes 19 or the like seated along this frameadjacent the top at the desired points.

As now considered the draft-lines are con veniently detachably connectedto the net by engaging the hooks 14: in suitable eyes 20, which arepreferably attached to the vertical rib-lines, as 21, of the net, and aplurality of these eyes are arranged along each of these ribs atseparated points when the net is of extreme depth, and tie-lines, as 22,are connected to the net adjacent the upper hooks as convenient meansfor securing the gathered portion of the net in partly-lifted positionwhile the draft-lines are disconnected, lowered, and reattached to thelower eyes to complete the lift. These eyes 20 are preferably arrangedon suitable rope-clamps, as 24, each of which consists of asubstantially U- shaped clamp 25 of suitable size to receive therope-rib snugly in the crotch, a shank 26 of less thickness than thediameter of the rope seated between the stems of the clamp and having aneye 20 attached thereto, and a clamping-bolt 27 arranged in suitableapertures formed transversely the stems of the clamp and the shank andadapted to draw said stems toward each other, and thereby cause them togrip the rope.

In the present application of the lifting device the eyes 20 arearranged on three sides only of the capping 18 of the pot-support, Fig.

1, so that the guides 16 can be properly disposed to distribute thedraft-lines to gather the netting at these three sides, and therebythrow the fish to the remaining side of the pot as lifted and facilitatetheir removal.-

The application of this device to lift nets of other forms than the oneindicated can be readily understood, as it simply involves the placingand supporting of the line-separating guides 16 at suitably-separatedpoints along ,the upper edge of the net to properly distribute thedraft-lines and arranging said lines therein to cause them to convergeat the point of application of the lifting power.

This lifting device is simple of construction, durable in use, and hasfew parts likely to become disarranged. Furthermore, it can be readilyplaced in position for use and disconnected for transportation from trapto trap, and its operation can be readily understood, as it simplyrequires the connection of the lower ends of the draft-lines to the notwhen the lifter is in lowered position, then the application of suitablelifting power to the ring 12, and when the net is of extreme depth thesecuring thereof when partly lifted by tying the lines 22 to thenet-support, when the draft-lines can be disconnected and lowered to thenet to complete the lift.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States of America, is

1. A portable net-lifting device, comprising a plurality of draft-linesconnected together at one end and adapted to be secured by the oppositeends to a fish-net, and guides adapted to distribute said lines alongthe net for a vertical lift.

2. A portable net-lifting device, comprising a plurality of draft-linesconnected at one end, a net-engaging device at the opposite end of eachline and line-distributing guides adapted to guide respectivedraft-lines for a vertical lift.

3. A portable net-lifting device, compris- {5 block for each line andmeans to detachably connect said blocks to the net-support at separatedpoints.

5. A portable net-lifting device comprising a plurality of draft-linesconnected at one end, a hook at the opposite end of each line, aplurality of eye clamps related to each hook and adapted to be securedat separated points on arespective rib of the net, a block for eachline, means to detachably connect said blocks to the net-support atseparated points and means to support the net in partlylifted position.

6. In a net-lifting device, the combination with a draft-line, a hook atone end thereof and a rope-guide; of means to detachably connect saidguide to the net-support and an eye-clamp adapted to be secured to thenet.

7. In a net-lifting device, the combination with a draft-line, a hook atone end thereof and a rope-guide; of means to detachably connect saidguide to the net-support and a plurality of eye-clamps adapted to besecured at separated points to the rib-rope of the net and means tosupport the net in partly-lifted position.

Signed at Lopez, \Vashington, this 7th day of August, 1902.

ALBERT FREDERICK SHADEL.

Witnesses:

A. L. EASTMAN, JoHN HULSMAN.

